The St Austell to A30 link road will connect the old A30 near Victoria to the north and the A391 at Stenalees roundabout to the south. It will be a new 3.9 mile single carriageway road. It is a vital link to bring opportunities to the area including:
- improving economic growth by upgrading links to St Austell from the rest of the United Kingdom
- making it easier to get to Cornwall’s growing employment sites.
On June 6th 2022 the Department For Transport confirmed funding of £78.5m. Cornwall Council are providing £6m and £0.4m be made from Section 106 contributions. This gives a total budget of £84.9m
Contractor Alun Griffiths have been appointed to carry out construction of the road. Construction commenced on 4th July 2022. It is anticipated to be complete in spring 2025.
Once the new road is open the changes within the surrounding villages will be assessed. Complementary traffic management measures will then be designed. They will focus on analysis of impacts and benefits during the assessment period.
- 4th July 2022 – Construction commenced
- 26th September 2022 to 31st January 2023 - Temporary closure of Carthew Road
November 2023 Update
Favourable weather earlier in the year allowed good progress to be made. Tregoss Roundabout and Edgcumbe Road are now open. Construction of the Harmony Junction is almost complete, with Harmony Road currently set to re-open at the end of November 2023. The completion of Harmony Junction will allow pedestrian access back through to the village. Foundations for bridge structures and culverts south of Harmony Road are progressing, and the Trezaise junction and roundabout are under construction.
The two-way traffic lights at the top of Stannery Road will be in place until mid-November 2023 so drainage works can be completed.
There will be four-way traffic lights at Singlerose Roundabout from 8 January 2024 to 27 March 2024 for the construction of the south east arm to the existing A391. The lights will be manually controlled at busy times to limit traffic build up.
The new Link Road is still programmed to open in spring 2025.
January 2023 Update
Construction has progressed on the project. Cornish hedge construction in the northern section also continues. Drainage and kerbing works close to Singlerose roundabout is also underway. Carthew road has also reopened under traffic management. The consultation period for the common land swap has closed. There were no objections
Construction of the Tregoss Roundabout
Construction of the Singlerose Roundabout and adjacent attenuation pond
December 2022 Update
Update for reopening of Carthew Road Closure. It is with regret that the Carthew Road closure will be extended into the new year. Further details are provided on the Alun Griffiths website under News.
October 2022 Update
The removal of Singlerose roundabout is complete. Construction of the new Tregoss roundabout continues. Assembly of the new Cornish hedge below the Tregoss roundabout is complete. Installation and diversion of utilities is also underway. Topsoil excavation and vegetation clearance is complete along many sections.
Construction of Cornish Hedge south of Tregoss roundabout
Construction of Tregoss roundabout
September 2022 Update
Construction is continuing at a steady pace. Vegetation clearance has taken place in the area close to Tregoss roundabout and also to the northwest of Singlerose roundabout. Construction of Cornish hedging has also commenced. Across the site topsoil is being cleared too.
August 2022 Update
Following the confirmation of funding from the Department of Transport on 6th June 2022, Alun Griffiths commenced construction of the new road on 4th July 2022
Preparatory earthworks completed by Imerys, initially at Victoria Tip near the roundabout at Stenalees, commenced at the end of June 2022 and are expected to be complete early in 2023.
From 26th September to 22nd December 2022 a temporary closure of Carthew Road is required. This is to enable the construction of the new roundabout at Stenalees. Four-way traffic signals will be in operation on Stenalees Roundabout. They will last for a week from 19 September 2022. The temporary traffic signals will be controlled manually during peak periods. Automated controls will be in place off peak. From the 26 September 2022 the traffic signals will be removed. The adjusted junction will operate as a three-arm roundabout, with the Carthew Road arm closed. The site team are aware of the inconvenience that will be caused by the road closure. They intend to complete the works so that Carthew Road can be opened for normal use as soon as possible
June 2022 Update
December 2021 Update
The Secretary of State for Transport confirmed with modifications the Cornwall Council (St Austell to A30 Link Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2020 and the Cornwall Council (St Austell to A30 Link Road) (Classified Road) (Side Roads) Order 2020.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs issued a certificate. This is an exercise of their powers under 19(1)(a) of, and paragraph 6(1)(a) of schedule 3, to the Acquisition of Land Act 1981.
Copies of the confirmed Orders are available to download. These are found in the CPO/SRO information section below.
Next key steps
A decision from the Department for Transport to fund the scheme is expected in Spring 2022.
The land required for the route, can then be bought, when funding is in place.
The main earthworks will likely start in Spring 2022.
Previous Updates
November 2021 Update
All documents are with the Department of Transport for review.
The Council was successful in getting some advance funding ahead of the full funding. Work can thus start on the archaeological investigations along the route. This will happen towards the end of November, as required by our planning consent.
Some vegetation clearance will also take place during the winter months. This will be ahead of the bird nesting season next Spring.
September 2021 Update
The common land consultation was held in July/August and no objections were received. The objections to the Compulsory Purchase Order have now all been withdrawn. The planned Public Inquiry to hear the objections has been cancelled as it is no longer required.
We are speaking with government about the next steps. This includes confirming the statutory orders followed by confirmation of funding. As soon as the funding is confirmed the main works can start on site.
The council is working with the Department of Transport to complete the remaining steps.
When we are notified that funding is in place, we will be issuing more information. This will give the local community details about the construction activity.
June 2021
The Statutory consultations for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) and Side Road Order (SRO) are needed. This is to build the new link road were held in late 2020. Some objections were received to both orders. The objections to the SRO have now been removed. The Council’s legal team will continue to work with the legal teams of the CPO objectors. It is hoped this will resolve the objections so things can progress. If the objections are not removed a Public Inquiry will need to be held to discuss and make decisions on them. This is most likely to be held in September 2021.
The Final Business Case was submitted to the Department for Transport in Autumn 2020.
A site office has been established north of Roche. Alun Griffiths (Contractors) will start to operate from this location as COVID-19 restrictions allow. In time, this will become the main site offices for the team.
1. Orders and Supporting Documents
- The Cornwall Council (St Austell to A30 link road) Compulsory Purchase Order (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3)
- CPO 2020 Key Plan
- CPO 2020 Sheet 1
- CPO 2020 Sheet 2
- CPO 2020 Sheet 3
- CPO 2020 Sheet 4
- CPO 2020 Sheet 5
- CPO 2020 Sheet 6
- Cabinet decision for CPO
- The Compulsory Purchase (and Side Roads) Order Statement of Reasons
- Statement of Reasons - Annexure 1
- St Austell to A30 Link Road CPO Side Roads Order - Report
- St Austell to A30 Link Road CPO Side Road Order - Signed Decision Sheet
- Specimen CPO Site Notice
- Specimen CPO Notice to Qualified Persons
- Side Roads Order 2020 Notice
- The Cornwall Council (St Austell to A30 Link Road) (Classified Road) (Side Roads) Order 2020 With Plans
- Letter dated 17 June 2021 awarding Section 31 Grant for Financial Year 2021/22 – St Austell to A30 Link – Development Costs and signed on 18 June 2021
- Grant Determination for the Local Authority Major Project Grant No: 31/5617
- Notice of Intention to Issue a Certificate under Section 19
- Statement of Case
- Notice of Public Local Inquiries
- SRO Confirmation Notice
- CPO Confirmation Notice
- CPO Certificate
- Confirmed CPO Part One
- Confirmed CPO Part Two
- Confirmed CPO Part Three
- Confirmed CPO Part Four
- Confirmed SRO Part One
- Confirmed SRO Part Two
- Confirmed SRO Part Three
- Confirmed SRO Part Four
- Confirmed SRO Part Five
- Confirmed SRO Part Six
- Confirmed SRO Part Seven
Press Notices:
- Cornish Guardian (CPO) 30.09.2020
- Cornish Guardian (SRO) 30.09.2020
- London Gazette 30.09.2020
- Cornish Guardian (CPO) 07.10.2020
- Cornish Guardian (CPO) 14.10.2020
- Cornish Guardian (SRO) 14.10.2020
- London Gazette 14.10.2020
- Cornish Guardian (Notice) 28.10.2020
- Cornish Guardian (Notice) 04.11.2020
- Cornish Guardian (Notice) 14.07.2021
- Cornish Guardian (Notice) 21.07.2021
Letters and additional documents:
- Letter dated 17 June 2021 requesting modifications to the CPO
- Letter dated 6 July 2021 requesting modifications to the CPO
- The section 19 Acquisition of Land Act 1981 Application
- The Common Land Report
- The Common Land Report Addendum
Figures referred to in the Statement of Case:
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 16
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 2
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 3
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 4
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 5
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 6
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 7
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 8
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 9
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 10
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 11
- General Arrangement Drawing Sheet 12
- Non-Material Amendment Plan 1
- Non-Material Amendment Plan 2
- Mid Cornwall Moors SSSI Boundaries
Witness Statements:
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Colin Cottage
- Proof of evidence of Mr Colin Cottage (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6)
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Richard Bruten
- Proof of evidence of Mr Richard Bruten
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Steve Gudge
- Proof of evidence of Mr Steve Gudge
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Peter Williams
- Proof of evidence of Mr Peter Williams
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Steffan Shageer
- Proof of evidence of Mr Steffan Shageer
- Summary proof of evidence of Mr Rick Clayton (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)
- Proof of evidence of Mr Rick Clayton
2. Planning and Policy Documents
- Cornwall Local Plan 2016
- Local Transport Plan: Connecting Cornwall 2030 Strategy
- National Planning Policy Framework (2018)
- Planning Permission PA18/11986 (Granted 04 April 2019) ("Scheme Planning Permission")
- Planning Permission Associated Document: The Design Options Report
- Planning Permission Associated Document: Design and Access Statement
- Planning Permission Associated Document: Surface Water Management Strategy
- Planning Permission Associated Document: Statement of Community Involvement
- Roche Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan (2017)
- Minerals Local Plan (1998) (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
- Minerals Safeguarding Development Plan Document
- Treverbyn Neighbourhood Development Plan
- Cornwall Site Allocations – Development Plan Document (adopted November 2019)
- Utility Report
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 1
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 2
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 3
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 4
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 5
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 6
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 7
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 8
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 9
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 10
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 11
- Utility Report Drawings Volume 12
- Drawing References
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 1
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 2
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 3
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 4
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 5 (Part 1), (Part 2), (Part 3), (Part 4)
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 6
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 7
- Utility Report Appendices Volume 8
- Stats Equipment Drawing Volume 1
- Stats Equipment Drawing Volume 2
- Stats Equipment Drawing Volume 3
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View the Transport Assessment in the planning portal. (You will need to filter by description and search "Transport Assessment" in the search bar and click apply).
3. Scoping Documents
- Options Appraisal Report for Roche Option 2 (Amended) ("OAR")
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Environmental Statement
- CORMAC 2015 Report on viability of proposed routes
4. Economic Documents
- Outline Business Case ("OBC")
- Full Business Case ("FBC")
- Government Funding Decision (November 2017)
5. Legislation
- Department for Communities and Local Government's Guidance on Compulsory purchase process and The Crichel Down Rules (the "CPO Guidance")
- Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) together with subordinate legislation
- The Acquisition of Land Act 1981
- The Highways Act 1980
- Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2007
- The Compulsory Purchase of Land (Prescribed Forms)(Ministers) Regulations 2004
Complementary traffic management measures in surrounding villages are still being considered. This will be once the road is open. This allows consideration for how the new road operates. This allows analysis of the actual impacts and benefits on local communities. This allows us to confirm what traffic management measures to use.
The National Wildflower Centre at Eden has been appointed by Cornwall Council to create a planting scheme for the new A30 to St Austell link road. The National Wildflower Centre has specified six different wildflower mixes. These will be planted along the whole road. This will also include a significant quantity of heather seeding. The wildflower species are chosen to reflect the local flora of Cornwall. This will also be a great benefit to pollinators.
The National Wildflower Centre plans to source seeds from wild populations growing in Cornwall. This involves liaising with local landowners to grow enough seed for the landscaping works. This will follow the construction phase in 2-3 years’ time. Eden have been working with volunteers to collect the Red Campion and Foxglove that are needed in large quantities. They will also collect some of the species which are more problematic to grow. Such as Bird’s Foot Trefoil. Eden have also combine-harvested a significant quantity of cornfield annual seed. This is from the wildflower fields at the Eden Project. These amazing landscapes attracted national press attention this year. They hope to provide a taste of what is to come with the new road planting.
During 2020 they worked with volunteers and local botanists to collect the rest of the starter seed needed from wild populations. They also got the seeds in the ground for a big harvest in 2021. The final result of all this effort will be a net gain for biodiversity for the whole project. A feat unheard of for a road construction project. Cornwall Council is proud to be leading the way in this with Eden. We cannot wait to see the results.
Use the links below to view the displays and a booklet which were available at the Public Exhibitions.
- Exhibition booklet
- Banner 1 - Welcome
- Banner 2 - Fast facts
- Banner 3 - The story so far
- Banner 4 - Developing the scheme
- Banner 5 - The new link road
- Banner 6 - What will happen to existing roads
- Banner 7 - Scheme in detail - part 1
- Banner 8 - Scheme in detail - part 2
- Banner 9 - Scheme in detail - part 3
- Banner 10 - Scheme in detail - part 4
- Banner 11 - Assessing the effect on the environment
- Banner 12 - Landscape and the environment
- Banner 13 - Walking, cycling and horse riding
- Banner 14 - What happens next
- Banner 15 - Faster and slower
- Banner 16 - Plans and places
- Banner 17 - Roles and roads
- Banner 18 - Routes and flowers
- Appraisal and Modelling Checklist
- Scheme Plans
- NMU Plans
- Complementary Measures Plans
- Response to DFT OBC Comments
- CPO Plans
- Environmental Constraints
- Economic Narrative
- Cormac OAR Refresh
- Preferred Options Assessment Report
- Statement of Community Involvement
- Public Engagement Report
- Data Collection Report
- St Austell Model Validation
- Appraisal Specification Report
- Traffic Forecasting Report
- Economic Assessment Report
- Economic Impacts Report
- Environmental Appraisal Report
- Appraisal Summary Table
- Distributional Impact Report
- Project Programme
- Quality Assurance Plan
- Communications Strategy
- Risk Management Plan
- Benefits Realisation Plan
- Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
- Lessons Learned Log
- Procurement Strategy
- Risk Register
- Cost Report
- Benchmark Cost Report